Matthew 25 Synod Grants are available to Presbyterian Church (USA) congregations and institutions within the Synod of the Covenant. Congregations that share ministry with non-PC(USA) institutions and organizations within the geographic bounds of the Synod of the Covenant may also apply to fund the ministry contributed by the church. The congregation must submit the Matthew 25 Grant application, rather than the non-PCUSA institutions or organizations. 

The purpose of the grant must specifically be Christian in focus and adhere to the objectives of the PC(USA) Matthew 25 Initiative. Special consideration will be given to churches, ministries, and institutions which are primarily composed of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) and/or whose proposals are engaging with their neighborhood context and focusing on systemic change.

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Projects must directly address at least one of the three Matthew 25 mission priorities of the Synod of the Covenant:

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Building congregational vitality. The PCUSA highlights these seven marks of
congregational vitality:

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• Lifelong Discipleship

• Evangelism

• Outward-Focused Ministry

• Servant Leadership

• Worship

• Caring Relationships

• Healthy Systems
   

To learn more about these seven marks from our denomination click here. Applications which focus on one or more of these specific marks will be more successful than
those that do not.

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Dismantling structural racism. Structural racism causes communities and individuals of color to experience inequality in accessing money, land, housing, education, health, information, and social power.  To learn more about how our denomination seeks to dismantle structural racism click here. Applications which focus on addressing this racism in tangible ways will be more successful than those which simply build awareness.

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Eradicating systemic poverty. Systemic Poverty refers to the economic exploitation of the poor through laws, policies, practices, and systems that perpetuate their impoverished status.  To learn more about how our denomination seeks to eradicate systemic poverty click  here.  Applications which focus on the root causes of poverty will be more successful than those which focus on immediate/crisis care for the poor.

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Grants are awarded on the strength of the application and preference will be given to applications from congregations, institutions and organizations who have not applied previously. Continuing grants for completion of a project may also be considered.
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The grant awarded may be up to $5000.00 annually. Grants must be applied for every year. Evidence of institutional or congregational financial support for the project is strongly recommended. 

Grants may be used for either capital expenditures or program materials and costs, but
not staffing. A formal evaluation of the project is due to the Synod Grants Committee the
fall of the following year in advance of that year’s grants being awarded.